“Mike de la Cruz, a senior vice president with German software giant SAP AG, shows off the latest weapon of the corporate road warrior — his iPhone,” Jim Finkle and Scott Hillis report for Reuters.
“A hit with consumers because it combines a phone, music player and Web browser, analysts say Apple Inc’s iPhone is gaining ground as a business tool as well, and could one day rival Research in Motion Ltd’s popular Blackberry line,” Finkle and Hillis report.
“Indeed, it is popular enough that software makers such as SAP, Salesforce.com Inc (CRM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and scores of smaller developers are letting sales and finance teams work away from the office on their iPhones,” Finkle and Hillis report.
“On Monday, SAP broke with precedent by saying it would introduce a version of its upcoming customer relationship management software for the iPhone before launching versions for mobile devices from RIM and Palm Inc.,” Finkle and Hillis report. “The reason? SAP’s own salespeople were clamoring for it, saying the iPhone was easier to use, according to Bob Stutz, SAP senior vice president in charge of developing customer relationship management software.”
Finkle and Hillis report, “Apple says the device is great for business. ‘We’ve said many times that we’re providing a solution in iPhone that many businesses love,’ Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said in October. ‘Clearly, there are some businesses buying them and very much enjoying them.'”
Full article here.
The chickens are a-roostin’ today:
Apple will sell a few to its fans, but the iPhone won’t make a long-term mark on the industry… The big competitors in the mobile-phone industry such as Nokia Oyj and Motorola Inc. won’t be whispering nervously into their clamshells over a new threat to their business. – Matthew Lynn, Bloomberg, January 15, 2007
That is the most expensive phone in the world and it doesn’t appeal to business customers because it doesn’t have a keyboard which makes it not a very good email machine. – Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, January 17, 2007
Businesses have little, if any interest in the iPhone and Apple isn’t marketing it to the business sector anyway. The iPhone is not positioned at all for the IT world. It’s a very personal device. Most corporations are probably not going to support the iPhone on their networks. – Randy Giusto, IDC’s Group Vice President and General Manager of Mobility, Computing, and Consumer Markets, June 20, 2007
It doesn’t have any features that would make it successful as a business tool. The other question, is it even going to be successful as a consumer device? – Tony Rizzo, The 451 Group’s Research Director, Mobility, June 20, 2007
I said it before…SAP is Germany’s revenge for losing the war. …but this is great news anyway.
(February 2nd, 2007)
BusinessWeek:
“Would you buy an Apple iPhone at $499 or $599?”
Bill Gates:
“Well, of course, I’m the wrong person to ask. I like to dial numbers with one hand, and maybe I’m the only one.”
You’re not the only one, Bill. There’s big money for services that cater to you one-handed dialers. But does Melinda know?
I’ve heard of typing one handed, but dialing? isn’t that getting the cart before the horse?
Its no wonder that so many companies go out of business or loose money like they do. With execs like those above, who obviously have NO clue on how to run a business, ….. well, nuff said.
Maybe they take the stock buying advice of the famous Laura.
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Guess which CEO’s are eating very large amounts of crow now?
And if you think it’s popular with the businesses now, just wait until the SDK is released. That’ll really put the hurt on RIM and Palm.
I actually see four business tools mentioned here — all de ones MDN quoted below de article.
Them, and Ed Colligan.
I POOP on all five.
@ Buster
So funny, and so true. But then, since SAP was the main reason I had to have Parallels on my machine, maybe it was just the combination of WIndows and SAP that made me more likely to plunge forks into my eyes than enjoy the SAP User Experience™.
@ Ampar
Personally, if I don’t use both hands to dial, I usually don’t have a very satisfying call.
That has a nice ring to it, C1. Just make sure you know who you call, girl.
“Reach Out. Reach Out and Touch Someone.
Reach Out. Reach Out and Show You Care . . .”
The crow they are a-eatin’!!!
By the end of 2008 you will see more corporate types with an iPhone than you will a Blackberry.
(Crackberry no more – iPhone is the new crack)
The funny thing is, the rumor running around is that MS is planning on buying SAP. Wouldn’t that be something, SAP supporting the iPhone, with Ballmer throwing around chairs wanting to know why!
Ha ha, C1 – thanks for the chuckle (and the visual).
@ Bill Gates
I dial my iPhone with one hand quite often. Actually, I dial it with one thumb, while holding it with the rest of that hand. Maybe you have weird hands.
More aroma from crows roasting.
Germany didn’t lose the real war. The war was about the power of the great empires and they lost.
But Bill, what’s the other hand doing? Hmm?
NoNO, Don’t wanna know….
“Slow and steady wins the race”!
Or something like that.
Apple uses SAP software.
This is the first time when the SAP pays attention to the Mac world and it is sweet. Microsoft does not understand what hit them dead. Watch the Microsoft stock to loose $100 000 000 000 with in two years.
Wow can’t you just feel the pain in Hummer’s typing (one hand or two?) over his inability to own a legal iPhone.
Just as a follow up unless you can do it right there is little point in having market share in the bulk of Asia. Whatever you sell honestly will be more than out manouevered by pirated copies that milk your profits. Even Microsoft only has market share there by paying homage to Chinese power and sensibilities by turning a relative blind eye to piracy of its products and living off minimal profits to try to maintain market share and its general perceived influence over events, or risk losing any market impact at all to a state sponsored open source operating systems, media standards and open software alternatives to its office and database software. If that happens (and it is only delaying the inevitable here I believe) then gradual decline elsewhere will be the inevitable result which it is desperate to avoid. However for new players, mainland Asia, while having great potential for sales, needs to be entered in ways to avoid that threat, or keep your liabilities there small and/or at the top end of the market where image rules.
Sap have thrown a sop to Apple in the hope of creating Appfellsaft!!